This document discusses the care of elderly people. It outlines the changes that occur in the body systems with aging, including the skin, bones, muscles, nervous system, heart, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, reproductive system, and immune system. It provides preventive measures for many of these changes. It also discusses important factors to consider in caring for elderly people at home, including safety, independence, comfort, movement, mental activity, and rehabilitation. The overall approach should be to promote dignity, choice, and quality of life for elderly individuals.

1. CARE OF ELDERLY
DR. SAMTA SONI

2. FACTORS INFLUENCING AGEING
Hereditary
Environment
Socioeconomic
Retirement ,Death of spouse
social relationship

3. CHANGES IN THE BODY DUE TO AGEING
• Skin:- Wrinkles appear on skin, dryness develops, skin breakdown and
pressure sores develop in elderly. Loss of fat under skin increases sensitivity
to cold and may complain of cold feet. Dry skin causes itching. Nails
become thick and tough. White or grey hair is a common sign of ageing.
• Preventive measures: Elderly persons must be protected from extreme cold.
Sweaters, caps, blankets, socks are often needed for warmth. Mild soap is
used for bathing. Lotions, oils, and ,creams prevent drying and itching.
Socks help, Brushing aQ...9shampooing should be done as often as
necessary for cleanliness and comfort. Elderly has more risk of burns as the
skin can easily breakdown and is more sensitive to heat.

5. CHANGES IN BONES AND MUSCLES
• : Bones can break easily. Joints become stiff and painful. These
changes result in a gradual loss of height, loss of strength, and
decreased mobility (movements). Activity and diet can help slow
down the rate of these changes.
• Preventive measures: Elderly person need to be as active as possible.
Promote bathing, dressing and other daily activities. The diet should
be high in proteins, calcium and vitamins. Since bones can break
easily, the person must be protected from injury. Prevent falls. Move
and turn the person gently and carefully. A person may need support
and help when getting out of bed and during walking.

6. CHANGES IN NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Loss of vision and hearing, loss of taste and smell, sense of
touch and sensitivity to pain are also reduced. Heat, cold, and
pressure on bony areas may not be felt.
• Preventive measures: The elderly must be protected from
injury. Be careful when applying heat or cold. Keep the skin
clean and give gentle oil massage.

8. HEART AND BLOOD VESSELS
• Heart pumps with less force. Hence, during activity, exercise,
excitement and illness, the elderly can have problem.
• Preventive measures: The elderly persons need rest periods
during the day. May be encouraged to go for periodical health
check up. Diet should be having less fat and salt.

9. THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
• Respiratory muscles weaken and become less elastic and more
rigid. Difficulty in breathing may occur with activity. The person
may not have enough strength to cough and clear the upper
airway of secretions. Respiratory infections may occur and can
lead to death.
• Preventive measures: Normal breathing must be promoted.
Turning, repositioning, and deep breathing help prevent
respiratory complications that may result from bed rest. Make
the person in sitting position with extra pillows.

10. THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
• constipation diarrhoea flatulence
• Preventive measures:Daily brushing and denture care improve
the ability to taste food. They should be given diet high in fibre,
it should be prepared in such a way that patient should not
have difficulty in chewing. Soft diet, cooked food and
vegetables should be given. High proteins are required for
tissue growth . and repair. You should be patience, and kind
towards the elderly while working with them. Food given to
elderly should be as per the liking, small meals can be given
more frequently.

11. URINARY SYSTEM:
• Kidney function decreases. Kidney size reduces. Body wastes
can build up in the blood and cause serious health problems.
Bladder muscles also weaken causing the bladder to hold less
urine. Persons needs to urinate more frequently and can not
hold at all:
• Preventive measures: The doctor may order increased fluid
intake to promote kidney function. Intake should include water,
fruitjuices, and milk. The most fluid should be given before 8
p.m. This reduces the need to urinate during the night

12. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
• :There are changes in all the reproductive organs. Due to
weakening of muscles, uterus may move from its place and lie
lower (prolapse). Vaginal secretions decrease which lead to dry
vagina. Sexual desire remains unchanged in male and female
both. In male there may be enlarged prostrate. Men require to
urinate frequently due to prostate enlargement. In men sperm
count decreases. In women size of breast tissue and uterus
decreases

13. THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
• (Body's Defense) as the ageing progresses, body's defense
weakens resulting in repeated infections. Immunity is the
mechanism or state of protection induced by vaccinations or
natural infection.

16. CARE OF ELDERLY AT HOME
• Follow the person's care plan so that the care is the same from day to
day.
• 2) Respect family's beliefs and ways of doing things as far as
possible.
• 3) Provide clean, safe, well ventilated atmosphere to the patient.
• ( 4) Keep the environment in and out of the house very clean.
• 5) - Keep a calm, quiet environment where there is no noise and
confusion.
• 6) Provide safe and secure appliances to the patient at home. Be
sensitive to feelings and needs of an individual.
• Call the person by name and identify yourself.

17. • Explain what you are doing and why you are helping the patient in his
care.
• Provide a clock, calendar, and familiar objects to help the person to
become familiar with the surrounding. , Practice hand washing before
and after any procedure.
• Collect facts about home, patient and environment and plan care. , ,
Encourage healthy nutrition practices, involve him in his meal
planning.
• 13) Guide the family members to report the observation made by
them.
• 14) You must maintain good interpersonal relations with the patient

18. POINTS TO BE KEPT IN MIND IN CARE OF
ELDERLY PERSON'
• Promotion of Self Respect and Dignity
• Encourage the maximum of personal choice, decision-making and
participation in their own care on the part of the patients. Respect for the
elderly person's feelings and emotions should be shown.
• Alimitation of physical and mental abilities does not mean that the individual
should be treated as being incapable of normal human feelihg and
responses.
• When HBCP makes positive efforts to develop good relationships with
patients and gain their individual respect and friendship in difficult
situations of personal relationship then resistance to treatment are greatly
reduced and it becomes easier to take care as well as get cooperation from
the person.

19. THE APPROACH TO THE PATIENT
• 2) Elderly patients may have difficulty in understanding what is
said to them because of loss of sensory functions.
• They should be spoken to clearly and face-to face.
• It is undignified to discuss the patient's bladder and bowel
problems and other personal matters loudly in the presence of
other people.
• Elderly people will regress and start behaving in a childish
manner if they are treated with indifference towards their
feeling and pride.

20. 3) DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES
• The patient is encouraged to be out of bed as much as possible
so as to promote mobility, to reduce the risk of complication
such as pressure sores and stiffness of joint.
• Independence encourages self-respect.
• . Cleanliness and personal tidiness are.important to health and
safety.
• Let the elderly follow their own routine and pattern of daily
living.
• Support in the carrying out of daily routine like bath, dressing
etc

21. PROMOTIONS OF COMFORT
• Physical and mental comfort and relaxation has to be achieved.
There are many factors that contribute to the comfort of the
elderly patient. Special points for the elderly care are
• • Care of skin
• • Care of bony structure
• • Maintain temperature .
• • Fluid balance

22. SAFETY
• It is very important part of care to provide safety needs while
taking care of elderly at home. Such as unpolished floors wood
help the person against slipping on the floor, good'lighting,
less furniture for easy movement and mobility, correct ~eight
of beds, chairs and the provision of walking aids, hand-rails
can help towards safety of elderly.
• Constant observations and support has to be provided for
elderly especially for those with some degree of confusion and
for the restless patients.

23. PROMOTION OF INDEPENDENCE
• The patient is encouraged to the maximum possible level of self-care and
decisionmaking.
• Dressing and undressing, toileting, bathing, walking, planning their daily
activities or their future living pattern are all activities in which elderly
should be involved themselves as much as possible, rather than having done
for them with little or no participation.
• It is useful for those who are able, to draw their own pension, shop for their
own needs, have trips out with relatives or voluntary helpers, attend local
services or join in activities oflocal community groups such as Mahila
Mandal for religious activities, yoga, group of elders etc

24. PROMOTION OF MOVEMENT AND MOBILITY
• The elderly is encouraged to be out of bed as much as possible,
according to capabilities and needs. Movement and mobility
should continue throughout the elderly care.
• The prevention of further deterioration is an important aspect
of geriatric care and movement and activity is continue even
where it is considered unlikely that the patient will be able to
achieve full mobility.
• Keep movements possible according to tolerance of the
person.

25. PROMOTION OF MENTAL ACTIVITY AND
INTERESTS
• Allow for mental activity. Meet recreational need by allowing
music, television, playing with grand children, participating in
religious meetings as far as possible.

26. REHABILITATION
• Rehabilitation for the elderly includes all those activities which
aim at restoring the patient to the highest possible degree of
independent living of which he or she is capable which included
physiotherapy.

27. • Thanking you